Safety cap and container



Dec. 23, 1969 P. HEDGEWICK ET 3,435,403

SAFETY CAP AND CONTAINER Filed March-15, 1968 "r" I I/ INVENTOR-F MYMXMCM A TTORWEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,485,403 Patented Dec.23, 1969 US. Cl. 215-9 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thecontainer disclosed herein comprises a cylindrical plastic body which ismolded in one piece and has circumferentially spaced radially extendingprojections on the upper end thereof that have notches therein. The capcomprises a one-piece plastic body having a base and a peripheral flangewith circumferentially spaced lugs extending radially inwardly forengagement with the notches. A first annular integral flexible web isprovided on the inner surface of the base and extends downwardly andoutwardly. An annular integral rib on the inner surface of the baseoverlies the annular flexible web and serves as a stop to preventoverflexing of the web. A second annular integral flexible web extendsdownwardly from the inner surface of the base. A liner having adeformable outer surface is interposed between the annular flexible websand the lugs for engagement with the upper end of the container. Thebase of the cap includes circumferential openings which facilitate itsmanufacture as a onepiece plastic cap but do not interfere with thesealing action of the annular Web. The cap is applied to the containerby a rotating movement. The cap can only be removed from the containerby applying an axial force on the periphery of the cap and thereafterrotating the cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to safety caps andcontainers.

In the patent to Hedgewick 3,344,942, issued Oct. 3, 1967 there isdisclosed and claimed a novel cap and container structure which cannotbe readily opened by children, which is relatively simple andinexpensive and wherein the cap and container can each be molded in onepiece.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a cap andcontainer construction which is similar to that shown in the HedgewickPatent 3,344,942 but in addition produces a moisture and vapor-tightseal.

SUMMARY Basically, the container comprises a cylindrical plastic bodywhich can be molded in a one-piece mold and has circumferentially spacedradially extending projections on the upper end thereof that havenotches therein. The cap embodying the invention comprises a one-pieceplastic body having a base and a peripheral flange withcircumferentially spaced lugs extending radially inwardly for engagementwith the notches. A first annular integral flexible web is provided onthe inner surface of the base and extends downwardly and outwardly. Anannular integral rib on the inner surface of the base overlies theannular flexible web and serves as a stop to prevent overflexing of theweb. A second annular integral flexible web extends downwardly from theinner surface of the base. A liner having a deformable outer surface isinterposed between the annular flexible webs and the lugs for engagementwith the upper end of the container. The base of the cap includescircumferential openings which facilitates its manufacture as aone-piece plastic cap but do not interfere with the sealing action ofthe annular web. The cap is applied to the container by a rotatingmovement. The cap can only be removed from the container by applying anaxial force on the periphery of the cap and thereafter rotating the cap.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a cap and containerembodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the relative positions of thecap and container as the cap is being removed from the container.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the container.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the upperend of the container.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cap.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the cap.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the invention comprises a cap 10 that is adaptedto be applied to the upper end of a container C, each of which is moldedby injecting plastic into a cavity.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the cap 10 includes a base 11 and aperipheral flange 12 extending axially of the axis of the cap. Aplurality of radially inwardly extending lugs 13 are provided on theinner surface 14 of the flange 12 adjacent the lower end thereof. Springmeans in the form of a first integral flexible resilient annular web 15extends generally axially and radially outwardly from the inner surface16 of the base 11 and is formed with an enlarged rib 17 on the free endthereof that is adapted to engage the upper end of the container C. TheWeb 15 has a lesser cross section intermediate its ends so that it willflex intermediate its ends upon application of an axial force. Anintegral annular rib 18 extends axially from the inner surface 16 of thebase 11 in generally overlying relation to the free end of the web 15.An abutment member in the form of a second integral flexible resilientannular web 27 extends axially downwardly from the inner surface 16 ofbase 11.

The container C is generally cylindrical at least at the upper end andpreferably throughout so that it can be made in a single cavityone-piece mold. The container C is formed at its upper end with aplurality of outwardly extending radial projections 19. As shown in FIG.5, each radial projection 19 is formed with a first portion 20 and acircumferentially spaced second portion 21 to define a notch 22. Thelower surface 23 of the first portion 20 is tapered gradually downwardlyand circumferentially to blend in a smooth curve with the side wall 24of the notch 22. The second portion 21 extends axially a greaterdistance from the upper end of the container to define the side 25 ofthe notch 22. The upper end of the container 11 is formed with anupwardly extending rib 26.

As further shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cap 10 is formed with a pluralityof axially extending openings in the base 11 which overlie the lugs 13and result from the apparatus for manufacture of the cap.

As shown in FIG. 1, a liner or sealing member 30 is interposed betweenthe free edge of the annular web and the lugs. The liner 30 has adeformable surface 31 which conforms with the rib 26 on the mouth orupper end of the container as presently described.

In order to assemble the cap 10 on the container C, the cap is appliedto the mouth or upper end of the container with the liner 30 engagingrib 26. The cap is then rotated to bring the lugs 13 into engagementwith the tapered surfaces 23 of the projections 19. Further rotation ofthe cap causes the lugs to follow the surfaces 23 producing a flexing ofthe web 15 intermediate its free edge and its base until the lugs engagethe notches 22. In this position, the cap 10 is locked on the containerC by the spring force of the web 15 and the bead '17 of the web 15 is insealing engagement with the upper surface 26 of the container C as shownin FIG. 1. The base 11 of the cap is of such a thickness that it willflex if a force is applied at the center of the base 11. The area ofjuncture of the base of the web and the base 11 of the cap substantiallyoverlies the upp r end of the container.

The cap cannot be removed by a simple rotation so that children aredeterred, if not prevented, from removing the cap. In order to removethe cap, an axial force must be provided on the periphery of the cap inthe direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 2 to cause a flexing of theweb 15 and permit the lugs 13 to move axially and thereby clear theportion of the projections. After this axial force is applied, the capcan be turned in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2 to permitits removal. Because of the flexible nature of the base 11 of the cap,the axial force must be provided on the eriphery of the cap and not atthe center of the cap. This force is most conveniently applied bypressing the container against the palm of the hand. In both applyingand removing the cap, the rib 18 prevents overflexing of the springmeans 15 beyond the elastic limit which might cause a loss of resiliencyor spring action of the web. In applying the cap, the greater axialextent of the portion 21 prevents turning the cap beyond the notch 22.In removing the cap, the greater axial extent of the portion 21 preventsrotating the cap in the wrong direction for removal.

During application and removal of the cap, the spring means 15 flexesintermediate its ends d wnwardly as shown in FIG. '2. During thisflexing action, the inter mediate portion engages the liner along anannuiar area spaced inwardly from the periphery of the liner and appliesa force on the inner surface of the liner that forces the linerdownwardly in an axial direction and radially outwardly into conformitywith the rib 26 on the upper end of the container. Since during theengagement and disengagement of the cap there is also a rotary move--ment, this tends to smooth out deformable surface 31 of the liner 30facilitating the moisture and vapor seal that is formed between theliner and the rib of the container.

When the cap is on the container, the free edge of the abutment member27 engages the upper surface of the liner 30 as shown in FIG. 1. By thisarrangement, any tendency of the liner 30 to lift off the upper edge ofthe container when the liquid contents of the container are agitated isprevented. The free edge of the web 27 is spaced vertically above thefree edge of the web 15 when the cap is off the container and the websare untensioned. The distance between the free edges is preferably equalto one half the distance flexed by the free edge of the web 15.

When the cap is being removed, the second web 27 flexes inwardly asshown in FIG. 2. The second web 27 performs the further function offacilitating the tendency of the first web to smooth out the deformablesurface 31 of the liner during application and removal of the cap.

The cap 10 is made of a suitable plastic material which provides thedesired flexibility of the integral web 15. A preferred materialcomprises polypropylene although other materials such as polyethylenecan be used. The container C is also preferably made of a plastic. Apreferred plastic material comprises a high impact styrene.

Satisfactory results have been achieved by utilizing a liner having athickness of 0.025" and comprising a cardboard base having a thicknessof 0.02", a paperbacked aluminum foil coated with vinyl adhered to thecardboard and having a thickness of 0.00035" and a layer of wax over thevinyl-coated foil having a thickness of 0.00015.

What is claimed is:

1. A cap adapted to be appl ed to a container comprising: a base; aperipheral flange extending axially from said base for receiving themouth of a container to which the cap is to be applied; a plurality ofradially inwardly projecting lugs on the inner wall of said flange; agenerally flat sealing member carried by said cap, said sealing memberbeing received in said flange and having a peripheral portion overlyingsaid lugs; spring means between the base and the sealing member urgingthe sealing member toward engagement with said lugs; and means on saidbase for engaging said sealing member to limit deformation of thesealing member toward said base.

2. A cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said last named means comprisesan abutment m mber projecting axially from said base for engaging saidsealing member radially inwardly of the engagement of said sealingmember by said spring means.

3. A cap as claimed in claim 2 wherein said abutment member is resilientto yieldably resist deformation of said sealing member toward said base.

4. A cap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said abutment member includes aninner annular end engaged with said base and extends axially therefromand terminates in an outer annular free end engageable with said sealingmemher.

5. A cap as claimed in claim 4 wherein the diameter of the outer annularend of said abutment member is the same as the diameter of the innerannular end thereof.

6. A cap as claimed in claim 5 wherein said abutment member has auniform cross section from the inner annular end to the outer annularfree end.

7. A cap as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inner annular end of saidabutment member is joined integrally to said base.

8. A cap as claimed in claim 7 wherein said spring means has an innerannular end joined to said base and extends axially therefrom andterminates in an outer annular free end engaging the sealing member,the. inner annular end of said spring means being larger than the inneranular end of said abutment member.

9. A cap as claimed in claim 8 wherein the outer annular free end ofsaid spring means is spaced axially from said base a greater distancethan the outer annular free end of said abutment member when said springmeans is unstressed.

10. A cap as claimed in claim 9 wherein the diameter of the outerannular free end of said spring means is larger than the diameter of theinner annular end thereof.

11. A cap as claimed in claim 10 wherein said base, peripheral flange,lugs, abutment member and spring means are integrally molded together toform a one-piece cap.

12. A safety package for medicines and the like comprising: a containerhaving a mouth portion with an annular rim; a cap having a base with anintegral peripheral flange projecting axially therefrom for receivingthe mouth portion of said container; interengageable locking elements onthe inner wall of the flange of the cap and the outer Wall of the mouthof the container, the cap locking elements projecting inwardly from theinner wall of the flange and being engageable with and disengageablefrom the container locking elements by axial motion of the cap relativeto the container followed by rotative motion of the cap relative to thecontainer; hollow cylindrical abutment means surrounded by said flangeand having an inner annular end formed integrally with said base andprojecting axially therefrom and terminating in an outer annular freeend having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the mouthof the container; and resilient means carried by said cap reactingagainst said annular rim for biasing the cap against axial motionrelative to said container to resiliently resist disengagement of thecap and container locking elements.

13. In a safety cap of the type having a base with a peripheral flangeextending axially therefrom and adapted to receive the mouth of acontainer with a plurality of inwardly projecting cap locking elementsSpaced peripherally from each other on the inner wall of the flange andlocated an equal axial distance from the base adapted for interlockedengagement with and disengagement from container locking elements spacedperipherally from each other on the outer wall of the mouth of suchcontainer only by axial motion of the cap relative to the containerfollowed by rotative motion of the cap relative to the container andwherein the cap is biased to a fixed axial position relative to thecontainer to resiliently maintain the cap locking elements engaged withthe container locking elements and resiliently resist axial movement ofthe cap toward the container, the improvement comprising: hollowcylindrical abutment means surrounded by said flange and having an innerannular end joined integrally to said base and projecting axiallytherefrom and terminating in an outer annular free end; and a generallyflat disc member received in said flange between the cap lockingelements and free end of said abutment means and unconnected with saidabutment means with its periphery overlying said locking elements, saidouter annular free end having a diameter less than the inner diameter ofthe container to which the cap is adapted to be applied such that thedisc member is adapted to be flexed between its periphery and theportion thereof engaged by the abutment means when the cap isinterlocked with a container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,514,337 11/1924 Rappenecker215-44 X 1,978,946 10/1934 Horner 215--40 2,138,376 11/1938 Griswold215-40 X 2,387,439 10/1945 Grabus. 2,397,589 4/1946 Barnby 215402,419,304 4/1947 Warth 215-40 X 2,776,066 1/1957 Thornton 215-9 X3,151,757 10/1964 Martin 2l541 3,255,907 6/1966 Eddy 21540 3,344,94210/1967 Hedgewick 215-9 3,348,717 10/1967 Treanor 2159 FOREIGN PATENTS850,871 9/1939 France.

1,018,172 10/1952 France.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 15 0

